McDonalds American Samoa today presented its scholarship awards to four graduates for 2008.

Samoan recording artist Aziel Al Toeaina appeared in the Honolulu federal court yesterday to face drug charges, of which he pled guilty to. Toeaina, who is known as “AZ” in the music industry, was arrested in December when agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized $29,969 cash in three unwrapped packages of Hawaiian Host chocolates. The packages were in a shopping bag that was next to a bag that Toeaina admitted was his. According to court records, a drug-sniffing canine detected the presence of illegal narcotics on the cash that was seized.

The Department of Health and LBJ Hospital are working hard to make sure they are prepared to accommodate the medical needs of the visitors who will be in American Samoa for the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts. LBJ Hospital is stocking up with extra medical supplies and staff members of DOH are undergoing training to familiarize themselves with the new mobile MASH units, which are basically tents conveniently power equipped to provide a functional field hospital.

Another big day for the organizing committee of the festival of pacific arts, with donations continuing to pour in from the community.

A native of American Samoa has been chosen to fill the post of Command Sergeant Major for the Pacific Regional Medical Command at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Tuileama Toatolu Nua has accepted the vacant position and is expected to arrive in Honolulu soon with his wife and children.

The Bank of Hawaii, as the first Platinum Sponsor for the Festival of Pacific Arts, has asked for, and received acquistion rights to name the Festival Media Center in honor of the bank. Located next to the Festival Village at Samoana High School, the Media Center will hereafter be called the Bank of Hawaii Media Center to honor our first Platinum Sponsor. Platinum Sponsors are donors who have given 50,000 USD to support the Festival.

Four young American Samoa baseball players and a local coach left island last night for Australia to attend a two-week training course that is being put together by the Baseball Confederation of Oceania.

Sad news was received in the territory last week, as another Toa o Samoa was killed in action at the warfront in Iraq.

South Korean food giant Dongwon Group has confirmed that it will buy the seafood division of Del Monte Foods, which includes Starkist Seafood, for $363 million.

Invitations were sent out by gubernatorial candidates Utu Abe Malae and Nua Mailo Saoluaga to invite members of American Samoa’s private sector to a dinner that was held this past Friday at the Famous Restaurant in Nuuuli. The dinner had a good turnout, and it opened windows for discussion on how the government and the private sector can work together in the best interest of American Samoa.